Busting Brackets
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Bracketology Bubble Watch: Breaking down who remains in at-large contention

By Lukas Harkins

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 05: Justin Simon #5 of the St. John's Red Storm dunks the ball in the second half against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Fiserv Forum on February 05, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 05: Justin Simon #5 of the St. John's Red Storm dunks the ball in the second half against the Marquette Golden Eagles at the Fiserv Forum on February 05, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17:  Nebraska Cornhuskers walk off the court . (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17:  Nebraska Cornhuskers walk off the court . (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

This edition of the bracketology bubble watch breaks down each team in consideration for an at-large bid with a look at their resume and what is to come.

Another week of college basketball is complete and that means that my bracketology bubble watch is back once again. Teams around the nation made their pitches to be featured in the NCAA Tournament field during the past week and several were able to make big moves. But even though some teams made jumps in the right direction, there were seemingly just as many who toppled down a few spots. And with the bubble in the wacky shape that it is, hopefully this edition of the bubble watch will help you determine where your favorite team stands and how they need to play as the season continues.

As a quick refresher, here is a quick breakdown of what each of the categories in this piece signifies:

Lead-pipe lock: Barring a massive collapse or huge injury issues, these teams are sure-fire NCAA Tournament teams. They are No. 1-4 seeds in just about everyone’s projected fields and it would be a shock for them to tank out of the field.

Firmly in the field: These teams have the potential to reach the “lead-pipe lock” category in next week’s edition of the bubble watch. Through the first few months of the season, they have put together a great resume and are in just about everyone’s projected bracketology field. They usually hold No. 5-7 seeds.

Some perspiration: Teams in this category might not be on the verge of missing the NCAA Tournament but they cannot afford major slides in the coming weeks. As long as they play as they have been, an at-large bid is in their future. These teams usually currently hold No. 8-10 seeds.

Double the deodorant: These are the squads who would be sweating out Selection Sunday most if the tournament started today. They have work left to do in the coming months to secure a spot in the Big Dance and are usually either in the tournament as a No. 10-12 seed or on the outside looking in.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the third edition of the 2019 bubble watch!

This update to the bracketology bubble watch is completed prior to the games on Friday, Feb. 8.

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